Local Authorities Urged To Promote Institutional Investment In Private Rented Sector Over Home Ownership

According to the report “Making Renting Viable“ commissioned by the British Property Foundation (BPF) and conducted by a leading London law firm; more UK local authorities should focus on building new residential properties for the private rented sector to encourage institutional […]

Local Authorities Urged To Build More Private Rental Sector Properties

Local Authorities Urged To Promote Institutional Investment In Private Rented Sector Over Home Ownership

According to the report “Making Renting Viable“ commissioned by the British Property Foundation (BPF) and conducted by a leading London law firm; more UK local authorities should focus on building new residential properties for the private rented sector to encourage institutional investment instead of promoting local homeownership.

The British Property Foundation and Addleshaw Goddard who conducted the survey, reckon that UK local authorities should earmark land within their council boundaries for private rented sector (PRS) properties and set housing development targets to encourage pension funds and other institutions to invest more in the private rented sector.

Partner at Addleshaw Goddard, Marnix Elsenaar, said: “It’s vital councils recognise both the need for an institutional private rented sector that’s not the same as buy-to-let, while ministers should update planning guidance to make building for rent economically viable. Residential property was seen as more difficult than renting out a commercial office block, but the landscape has changed. Institutions want reliable, long-term returns and they should see a good degree of income growth in the private rented sector.

Government housing minister Kris Hopkins has welcomed a deal that will release £500 Million (GBP) of additional funding to build new affordable residential properties in the UK.

The new investment finance has been secured through an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), that will help deliver up to 4,300 new and affordable homes to rent in areas of the UK.

The funding is set to form part of the £3.5 Billion (GBP) Affordable Housing Guarantees programme, which enables housing associations to use Government guarantees to secure private investment at more competitive rates than they would otherwise be able to secure.

Councils must be free to borrow more to build new residential properties

The Government must allow Local Authorities to borrow more money to spend on building so they can tackle housing shortages and build 60,000 extra residential properties in five years, according to the Local Government Association

The Local Government Association (LGA) said that […]

Councils must be free to borrow more to build new residential properties

Councils must be free to borrow more
to build new residential properties

The Government must allow Local Authorities to borrow more money to spend on building so they can tackle housing shortages and build 60,000 extra residential properties in five years, according to the Local Government Association

The Local Government Association (LGA) said that the nine councils listed below were unable to take on any loans at all, even though they have over 40,000 people on accommodation waiting lists.

Darlington Borough Council

Dudley Borough Council

Exeter City Council

Gosport Borough Council

Harrow Council

Royal Borough Greenwich Council

South Cambridgeshire District Council

Waverley Borough Council

Woking Borough Council

The LGA said lifting a cap on local authority borrowing would allow up to 60,000 new residential properties to be built in the next five years.

The Government has announced that there are to be new regulations introduced in 2014 to provide private rented sector landlords, tenants and leaseholders with additional protection when working with lettings agents or property managing agents.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) […]

New Government Measures Intend

To Regulate Private Rented Sector

The Government has announced that there are to be new regulations introduced in 2014 to provide private rented sector landlords, tenants and leaseholders with additional protection when working with lettings agents or property managing agents.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) want the introduction of compulsory redress schemes for lettings and property managing agents will ensure that they can be fully investigated where information is not made clear on additional charges, administration fees or any other property or tenant related issue. The proposed measures are intended to provide a cheaper, easier way for landlords, tenants and leaseholders to pursue compensation from lettings and property managing agents if they have a complaint.

The conditions that have to be met by lettings and property managing agents to be a part of a redress scheme have now been published by the Government.

Build-To-Rent scheme seeking bids from property developers to help bring about the fastest rate of affordable residential property construction for two decades

UK Government Housing Minister, Mark Prisk, last week announced a second round of funding for the construction of new rental properties and the government are seeking fresh bids for a share of […]

Government Seek Bids For Build-To-Rent Scheme

Build-To-Rent scheme seeking bids from property developers to help bring about the fastest rate of affordable residential property construction for two decades

UK Government Housing Minister, Mark Prisk, last week announced a second round of funding for the construction of new rental properties and the government are seeking fresh bids for a share of at least £400 Million (GBP) to build new properties specifically for the private rental sector (PRS).

The funding is part of the flagship £1 Billion (GBP) Build-To-Rent fund, which offers support for property developers and property investors who want to get into the private rental sector for the first time.

Mr Prisk said the new Build-To-Rent scheme would encourage investment in the UK’s private rental market and offer prospective tenants a greater choice of rental property. The scheme is intended to run alongside up to £10 Billion (GBP) in government housing guarantees.

Working tenants renting property in the UK private rented sector have diminishing amounts of disposable income after new research revealed that average PRS rents rose four times faster than average UK salaries increased.

The March 2013 HomeLet Rental Index shows the average cost of renting property in the UK private rented sector increased by 3.3% […]

UK PRS Rents Rise Faster Than Tenant Income

Working tenants renting property in the UK private rented sector have diminishing amounts of disposable income after new research revealed that average PRS rents rose four times faster than average UK salaries increased.

The March 2013 HomeLet Rental Index shows the average cost of renting property in the UK private rented sector increased by 3.3% during the first quarter of 2013 to average £776 (GBP) per month.

In contrast, the average amount working tenants earn in a year only increased by a minimal 0.8% over the same period to £27,300 (GBP).

Although the 3.3% rise is much higher than that of tenant income, the increase in PRS rents has apparently slowed.

Data from March’s report also shows the average cost of renting a property in the UK PRS in the first quarter of 2012 increased by 3.4% and a significant 6.9% in 2011.

New home builders and property development contractors may be encouraged to build new exclusive rental only housing estates where none of the properties will be for sale.

The UK Government are exploring the idea and it could mean the introduction of a separate planning class for new-build residential property that will be rented out, and […]

Developers encouraged to build rental only estates

New home builders and property development contractors may be encouraged to build new exclusive rental only housing estates where none of the properties will be for sale.

The UK Government are exploring the idea and it could mean the introduction of a separate planning class for new-build residential property that will be rented out, and would mark a fundamental shift in the whole structure of the UK housing market.

The proposal comes following public research by the UK’s largest listed residential landlord – Grainger. The results have highlighted the huge shift in public opinion over renting property rather than home ownership.

67% of respondents believe long-term property renting will become as commonplace in the UK as it is on the continent and 54% also believe that more people will be renting property rather than owning their own homes in 15 years time.

Grainger also predict that in years to come, the average age of the first-time buyer (FTB) will be in the early 40s, putting increased pressure on the private rented sector.

Under the UK Governments guidance, institutions and property companies would own, operate and trade multiple build to rent developments.

Asset management company Schroders believes that this buying and selling activity between profit-chasing corporate companies would mean that residential property prices in this sector would be highly competitive.

Build to rent schemes would be aimed at young professionals and the retired who want to avoid home ownership. The proposed estates could also incorporate social and sporting facilities, such as pools and gyms, in a bid to attract professional tenants.

Another possibility would be that large scale landlords like Grainger could build on land offered by local authorities, rent out the homes at affordable rents, and at the end of an agreed period, sell the property on.

90% of landlords in the private rented sector are private individuals with multiple properties, who in turn are responsible for housing approximately 3.6 Million households.

With demand for suitable private rented sector (PRS) residential accommodation continuing to rise, there has been increasing pressure to bring large corporations into the private sector.

The Government is taking the issue seriously, looking at how to encourage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in the UK PRS residential sector.

The Communities and Local Government (CLG) department, Led by Sir Adrian Montague, has also launched a new consultation reviewing the barriers to institutional investment in private rented sector housing. The report is due out in June 2012.

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